About Aquafin

For over 30 years Aquafin has been a reliable partner of the Flemish Region for the financing, construction, optimisation and management of the supra-municipal infrastructure for waste water treatment. At our 325 waste water treatment plants, we treat the waste water of 86% of Flemish households. Since 2022, we have been working according to the spirit of a new cooperation agreement for which full-scale preparations were carried out last year and which came into effect from January 2023. That agreement stipulates that Aquafin is responsible for the supra-municipal investment programme and aligns it with the planned investments of the towns, cities and municipalities. Projects must contribute towards the achievement of the objectives set by the Flemish Environment Agency. We do that by investing the available resources effectively, aiming for a maximum ecological result in the process.

In our collection sewers, we collect the waste water from the municipal sewers of more than 86% of the Flemish population. From there, we transport it to one of our 325 waste water treatment plants spanning the whole of Flanders. After a mechanical and biological treatment process, it meets the applicable Flemish and European standards and we discharge it into the surface water.

Added Value For Society And The Environment

With our activities, we are contributing towards an important corporate objective: clean watercourses for future generations and a living environment in harmony with water. Our expertise in all aspects of the water cycle means that we are well placed to design solutions to tackle the consequences of climate change at local level. Dealing with rainwater smartly is crucial for coping with periods of drought and reducing the risk of flooding. That is why in our projects, we try to contain stormwater as far as possible. Where it is possible, we let it soak into the ground to combat the consequences of drought or we store the water in order to make it available for reuse. In the process, we take every opportunity to create added value for the neighbourhood through natural elements that promote biodiversity and by integrating functions such as recreation, cohesion and mobility in the design.

We can also increasingly extract value from the water treatment process itself. Thanks to research and innovation, the recovery of energy and raw materials is becoming increasingly feasible and cost-effective, as a result of which waste water has become an important link in the circular economy.

EXPERTISE FOR TOWNS, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Towns, cities and municipalities can also ask Aquafin to manage the municipal sewer infrastructure and for advice on the climate-robust planning of public areas. In accordance with the agreement with the Flemish Region, the charges and revenues for activities regarding the Flemish Region and those for the municipalities are separated. More than 100 Flemish towns, cities and municipalities are customers of Aquafin, mostly via a partnership with a water company.

Industrial Water Treatment

Our subsidiary Aquaplus offers the knowledge and expertise of Aquafin within the industry and to companies with a water-related issue. From renovation to process optimisation, asset management, operation, recycling of water or the whole process from design to implementation: all projects require an in-depth knowledge of water treatment. Aquaplus takes care of all this for its clients so they can concentrate on their core business. Our subsidiary has clients in various sectors, including food and beverage, chemicals and the pharmaceutical industry.

 Discover our expertises